White Crested Guinea PigMy guinea pig Tom was sociable and enjoyed cuddles, but was often shy and was easily spooked. He was however, incredibly vocal and always made lots of noise and squeaks when he was being held or you approached the cage with food! Guinea Pigs generally can be slightly shy, and are mostly nocturnal, so that is something to consider. Lots of handling at a young age increases their sociability!

White Crested Guinea Pig

Other name:Crested, American Crested

Scientific name:Cavia porcellus

Country / Place of origin:South America

History: The White Crested Guinea Pig is short haired, smooth, glossy coated Guinea Pig which has a distinctive white rosette of fur on its forehead. The White Crested Guinea Pig was officially recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) in 1974, and was the fourth accepted guinea pig breed.

Appearance: The White Crested Guinea Pig is characterized by a white whorl or rosette on the forehead. The best White Crested individual has only the crest in white. At no other part of the body should white also appear. Body color may be black, gold, or red. The hair is short and smooth.

Diet: Like other guinea pigs, the White Crested Guinea Pig appreciates fresh fruits and vegetables like cauliflower, celery, carrots, tomatoes, apples, cucumber, grapes, strawberries, cabbage, kale, parsley, endive, grass, and bell pepper. Grain and nuts add variety to their herbivorous diet. Commercially available guinea pig pellets are prepared with a balanced diet in mind. More importantly, the food should be chewable for the guinea pigs to wear down their fast-growing teeth.

Guinea pigs have a high requirement for Vitamin C; therefore supplements are recommended, whether in drops or chewable tablets. Fresh food should be broken into small pieces to prevent choking. Too much cabbage can cause gas; too much lettuce can cause liver problems. A constant supply of hay is recommended to help minimize digestive problems.

Water should always be available, preferably in gravity-flow water bottles. Stable earthenware food dishes are recommended.

Housing: The best housing for the White Crested Guinea Pig is a well-ventilated secure cage that will allow the animal sufficient room for activities and exploration. The cage should not be smaller than 4 square feet, and the bigger the better. Flooring should allow ventilation, like slatted plastic or stainless steel. Wire mesh is not recommended because it can trap the guinea pig’s feet; glass is also not ideal because it hampers ventilation; and wood absorbs moisture and urine.

Bedding is an important element of the guinea pig’s housing requirement. Recommended types of bedding include wood shavings (aspen and kiln-dried pine are good options), ground corncob, shredded paper (like newspaper or recycled paper bedding), and commercial bedding pellets.

Hiding places like log caves and miniature houses are appreciated by guinea pigs when they want to sleep, rest, or just keep out of sight. The cage should be located where there are no drafts or loud noises.

To ensure odor-free and sanitary living conditions, cages should be cleaned out at least weekly. Old food should be removed promptly.

Health issues: Some of the health problems guinea pigs suffer from include broken nails (may become infected), diarrhea (from too much fruits and vegetables), pneumonia (from changes in temperature), mites (causing hair loss and itching), and vitamin C deficiency (causing matted fur and lethargy). All health concerns must be referred to a veterinarian.

Behavior / Temperament / Activity level: Guinea pigs are popular as pets because of their social nature. They are gentle and curious and active in the daytime. They are also vocal, emitting purrs, squeals, chirps, whistles, whines, and rumblings depending on the message they want to convey.

Because of their active nature, they require about an hour of exercise and exploration. They may be allowed to run around the house as long as they are supervised and restricted from areas that could potentially be harmful to them like the garage.

Guinea pigs can be kept individually, but are happier when caged with one or more companions. They are best kept away from other household pets they may not be compatible with.

Natural history: The domesticated guinea pig breed Cavia porcellus is currently only found in captive environments. The guinea pigs found in the wild are different, closely related species of cavies, which still roam many regions of South America.